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Topic: Mayday Recording (Read 47615 times)

Hi, anyone knows of the panic mayday call from the VFR pilot who inadvertently ends up in IFR conditions and enters a spiral dive? The ATC talks the pilot out of the situation and the pilot regains control of the aircraft. He's later vectored out of IFR conditions.

This is amazing. I'm in ATC training at the FAA Academy and they played this recording during our "Emergencies" lesson about 2 weeks ago. Just this morning, we had someone in my class ask where they could actually get a copy of this recording. I will save it and email it to them. Thank you for posting it.

I think it's an abomination how the FSS professionals have been treated. Their service and value to VFR pilots cannot be put into monetary value.

Here is a picture and information of the aircraft that was involved:Airframe InfoManufacturer: CessnaModel:172PYear built:1986Construction Number (C/N):17276618Number of Seats: 4Number of Engines: 1Engine Manufacturer and Model: Lycoming 0-320 SERIESRegistration Type: Corporation

WOW intense!! A very good clip, indeed! Although, an association is trying to use this clip as propaganda against the contracting-out of FSS. Having not used FSS since it was contracted out, I couldn't tell you if it is any better or not. Heck, I've tried contacting FSS over the radio before and never had a response (and I should have being the airport I was at had an RCO).

In any case, great job on the FSS specialist's part in helping to get the plane under control! It was also interesting to hear the coordination between FSS and the Center controller -- this is stuff you don't get to hear.

Great audio. Its amazing how calm and collected the controller was and how excited the pilot was. Pilots are trained to be calm and collected as well, but in a situation like that, i totally understand. He actually thought he was going to die. Glad it all worked out for him. A good controller really can save your life. Thanks to all of you who work in any form of ATC.

One thing I don't get. Now I can't imagine how scary it is to be in that situation. However was he a new pilot? He seemed to be screaming into the mic, saying "help help help"? What did he expect anyone to do? It's hard to imagine someone with a lack of control being able to go up alone.

I really don't mean to be offensive. I was shocked at just how out of control he seemed.

One thing I don't get. Now I can't imagine how scary it is to be in that situation. However was he a new pilot? He seemed to be screaming into the mic, saying "help help help"? What did he expect anyone to do? It's hard to imagine someone with a lack of control being able to go up alone.

I really don't mean to be offensive. I was shocked at just how out of control he seemed.

Not really relevant. There are many high time non-IFR rated pilots out there.

While I can understand the fear associated with this guy's situation, am I the only one who wants to tell this guy to stop yelling Mayday???

Same here. I don't want to sound mean but that exact attitude, faced with an emergency is unbecoming of a pilot, in my opinion.

The typical response from the Chuck Yaeger wanna-bes and hanger flyers you find on aviation forums. "Unbecoming of a pilot" - like anyone cares about that when they have totally lost it and just KNOW, like this guy did, that it was over. Most pilots with some experience would not be critical. It takes a lot less than what this guy experienced to scare the hell out of most people, pilot or non-pilot.